Battery capacity indicator in a portable computing device

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods for indicating the status of a battery in a portable computing device are disclosed. The methods include retrieving battery status data from a basic input-output system (BIOS) on the computing device, and comparing the retrieved battery status data to a predefined battery status threshold stored on the computing device. Based on the comparison of the battery status data to the predefined battery status threshold, a battery status indicator may be provided to an applications program on the computing device. The battery status data is reflective of a characteristic of the battery, such as battery capacity. A system according to the present invention includes a computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for performing a method according to the present invention.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The subject matter disclosed herein is related to the subject matterdisclosed in copending application Ser. No. 09/822,913, filed Mar. 30,2001, entitled “Battery Voltage Indicator in a Portable ComputingDevice,” the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. Thesubject matter disclosed herein is also related to the subject matterdisclosed in copending application Ser. No. 09/822,905, filed on Mar.30, 2001, entitled “Systems and Methods for Collecting BIOS Data from aPlurality of Remote Computing Devices,” the contents of which are herebyincorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to portable computing devices. Moreparticularly, the present invention relates to providing a batterystatus indicator in such portable computing devices.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Portable computing devices such as laptop personal computers, personaldigital assistants, and the like are becoming ubiquitous due to theadvances in the computing field. Such devices, however, typically relyon a battery to supply electrical power so that the computing device canbe used in a portable fashion. Consequently, a user of the computingdevice often must depend on a battery status indicator to provide amethod of displaying a status of the battery level to inform the userthat charging of the battery may be necessary. Methods for monitoringthe battery status can include determining battery capacity (percentageof battery power remaining) or battery voltage (voltage level of thebattery).

A manufacturer of computing devices typically incorporates a batterystatus indicator in the manufactured computing device. One method ofindicating the battery status includes accessing a Basic Input/OutputSystem (BIOS) on the computing device. Typically, a BIOS includes a BIOScontroller and BIOS data store. The BIOS data store may contain datarepresentative of various aspects of the computing device, including,for example, power management settings and battery status data. The BIOScontroller may include a set of instructions that perform variousfunctions associated with maintaining the data in the BIOS data store(e.g., writing data to and reading data from the data store). The BIOSmay be installed on a Read-Only Memory (ROM) chip or flash memory chip,for example, within the computing device.

Some manufacturer-provided battery status indicator programs interrogatethe BIOS for battery status data that can be used to determine whether abattery status alert should be provided to the user. A battery statusalert is a type of battery status indicator that alerts the user when aparticular battery characteristic has fallen below a predefined level.In fact, some manufacturers provide stored programs that can be used tointerrogate the BIOS to obtain this data for use in a battery statusindicator or battery status alert.

Manufacturers of portable computing devices, however, typically confineusers of such portable computing devices to the parameters providedthereby for indicating the status of the battery to the user. Thebattery status indicator provided by the manufacturer, however, may beinaccurate, or the battery status threshold, which triggers the batterystatus alert, may be set too low, thereby not providing adequate warningto the user to charge the battery.

Additionally, battery status indicators on the portable computingdevices provided by the manufacturer are not integrated withapplications programs that the users typically use on the computingdevice. It would be advantageous to users of such portable computingdevices if a battery status indicator could be integrated into theapplications program so that the user of the computing device wouldreceive current, accurate battery status while using the applicationsprogram. Therefore, a need exists for a reliable and accurate batterystatus indicator, integrated into an applications program, withprogrammable parameters that permit the battery status threshold to bevaried from that provided by the manufacturer.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention satisfies the aforementioned need by providingsystems and methods for displaying a battery status indicator integratedinto an applications program on a portable computing device, and forproviding a battery status alert if the battery status falls below apredefined threshold. The battery status threshold can be a fixedparameter, or it can be a variable parameter that can be user-defined.By providing such a battery status indicator, the user of a computingdevice will be provided with a reliable battery status indicatorappearing in an applications program, and will have ample warning whenthe battery capacity reaches an unacceptably low level.

The systems and methods of the present invention can be integrated intoa software applications program on a computing device. The softwareapplications program, once executed, executes a BIOS interrogatingroutine. The BIOS interrogating routine occasionally queries the BIOS toretrieve battery status data relating to the battery in the computingdevice. The retrieved battery status data is compared to the batterystatus threshold (which can be predefined or user-defined). Based on thecomparison, a battery capacity indicator can be sent to and displayed inthe software applications program.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

Other features of the present invention are further apparent from thefollowing detailed description of the embodiments of the presentinvention taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures, of which:

FIG. 1 depicts a network environment in which the present invention canbe used;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a method of indicating the statusof a battery in a portable computing device in accordance with thepresent invention; and

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a portable computing having a softwareprogram in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to systems and methods for indicatingthe status of a battery in a portable computing device. Moreparticularly, the present invention is directed to indicating thebattery capacity (i.e., the percentage of battery power remaining in thebattery) of the portable computing device, and providing a batterystatus alert if the battery capacity falls below a predefined threshold.The method provides an accurate battery status indicator for displaywithin an applications program in a portable computing device.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the methods are implementedinto a software applications program residing on a portable computingdevice. The term software applications program hereinafter refers tosoftware programs that perform on an operating system platform and haveseparate functionality from that of an operating system. The method,according to one embodiment of the present invention, comprises queryingthe BIOS for BIOS data relating to a battery in the computing device.Then, the BIOS data is compared to a predefined status threshold. Basedon the comparison of the BIOS data to the predefined status threshold, abattery capacity indicator is provided to an applications program on thecomputing device for display to a user of the computing device.

Although the present invention is disclosed with reference to a portablelaptop computing device, such as, for example, the laptop 105 as shownin FIG. 1, it should be appreciated that the present invention may beimplemented in other portable computing devices having a BIOS, such as,for example, a personal digital assistant (“PDA”) or the like, withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention.

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary network in which the aspects of the presentinvention may be implemented. FIG. 1 shows a communication network 100that allows the exchange of information between a portable technicianlaptop 105 and in-house system computers 110 and/or server 115. Thelaptop 105 may communicate with the network 100 either through aphysical connection, such as, for example, a landline 120 (i.e., aphysical connection through data lines) or by way of a wirelessconnection 125. Using a physical connection, the laptop 105 connects tolandline 120. The landline 120 connects to a modem pool 130, and themodem pool 130 in turn connects to a protocol server 135 by way of datalines 140.

Alternatively, the laptop 105 may communicate with the network 100through a wireless connection 125. The wireless connection 125 enablesthe laptop to connect to wireless tower 132. The wireless tower 132connects to the protocol server 135 by way of data lines 140. Thewireless connection 125 is particularly useful for users of laptop 105that demand mobility while communicating with network 100, such as inthe case of a field technician, for example.

The protocol server then provides communication to server 115 throughdata lines 140. In-house systems computers 110 are also connected toserver 115 through data lines 140. This network configuration allowsdata to be transferred between all components of the network 100,particularly between users of laptop 105 and users of the in-housesystems computers 110.

With reference to FIG. 2 and in accordance with the present invention, amethod 300 is shown for indicating the status of a battery in a portablecomputing device having a BIOS. The method 300 comprises retrievingbattery status data from the BIOS of the computing device at step 302.The BIOS data relates to a characteristic of the battery in thecomputing device. For example, and in accordance with the presentinvention, the BIOS data may relate to the battery capacity, i.e., thepower remaining in the battery of the computing device.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a BIOS interrogating routineis used to retrieve battery status data from the BIOS. In this manner,an applications program executing on the computing device may initiatethe BIOS interrogating routine to access or interrogate a BIOS datastore (e.g., element 335 in FIG. 3) in order to query the BIOS for BIOSdata. The BIOS interrogating routine queries the BIOS by retrieving dataassociated with a device input/output (I/O) number. Such device I/Onumber is basically an index into the BIOS data store corresponding to apiece of hardware (which may or may not be located on the computingdevice). For example, the program, in accordance with the presentinvention, retrieves data based on a device I/O number associated withthe battery in the computing device, to retrieve data relating tobattery capacity, for example, or to some other characteristic of thebattery.

Once the battery status data is retrieved, the battery status data iscompared to a predefined status threshold at step 310. Preferably, wherethe battery status data reflects the battery capacity, the predefinedstatus threshold is set to 20%. Typically, this will be higher than mostmanufacturer-supplied thresholds.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the predefined statusthreshold is programmed into the BIOS interrogating routine. In thismanner, once the battery status data is retrieved from the BIOS, theBIOS interrogating routine compares the retrieved battery status data tothe predefined status threshold coded into the BIOS interrogatingroutine.

Alternatively, the predefined status threshold can be a variableparameter, and can be defined by the user of the computing device. Inthis manner, the user may selectively define the parameters of thepredefined status threshold to various threshold values, e.g., dependingon the environment in which the user is operating.

Based on the comparison of the battery status data to the battery statusthreshold, a battery status indicator is provided to an applicationsprogram on the computing device at step 320. For example, the batterystatus indicator may be sent to an applications program that iscurrently being executed. In this manner, while the user of thecomputing device is operating the applications program, the user mayview a battery status indicator integrated into the user interface ofthe applications program. Such an integrated battery indicator wouldallow the user to continuously operate the applications program whilesimultaneously monitoring the battery status.

Preferably, the applications program is an interface to a remotenetwork, such as might be used by a field service technician in thetelecommunications industry operating a laptop computer during a servicecall. The technician logs onto the network via a user interface at theremote computing device, and then interacts with the network server torequest and receive information necessary for the technician totroubleshoot and resolve problems in the field. Because the fieldtechnician will frequently be using the laptop in a portable fashion(i.e., not plugged into a power source), and usually far from a powersource, a battery status indicator integrated into the user interfacewill provide notice to the field technician that the battery is about todie, and that he should locate a power source. Because the threshold isset higher than the manufacturer provided threshold, the programmer (oruser) of the remote laptop can compensate for the expected amount oftime it will take the user to reach a power source. The applicationsprogram can be any such applications program, however, such as a wordprocessing application, for example.

The battery status indicator alerts the user of the device that thebattery status level has reached a certain level. For example, the lowbattery indicator can include a pop-up window with text indicating a lowbattery level, or a display embedded into the user interface of theapplications program. The low battery indicator can include a visualwarning representation, such as a flashing red light, for example, or anaudible alert.

In an embodiment wherein the threshold is user-definable, and the useris operating the computing device in an environment which is far from arecharging source, the user may want to predefine the status thresholdto such a level as to provide adequate warning to enable the user tofind a recharging source (e.g., the user may want to set the batterystatus threshold higher than 20%). Alternatively, if the user isoperating the computing device close to a recharging source, the usermay set the predefined status threshold to a level that provides littlewarning before the battery drains completely.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the predefined statusthreshold is set such that a battery status indicator is continuouslydisplayed in an applications program. In this manner, the battery statusindicator may represent the battery status data retrieved from the BIOS.Therefore, the user may continuously view the battery voltage within theuser interface of an applications program on the computing device. Forexample, if the predefined status threshold is set to the maximumcapacity (100%) of the battery, a battery status indicator will be sentto an applications program on the computing device whenever the batterycapacity is below such maximum capacity.

The applications program can then provide the battery status indicatorto the user, via the user interface of the applications program, in amanner that is perceptible to the user. It should be appreciated that,once the battery status indicator is sent to the applications program,the indicator may be presented in any manner. For example, the batteryindicator may be a flashing number indicating the battery capacity, or agraphical representation of the battery capacity, such as a gauge or abar, for example. Alternatively or additionally, the battery statusindicator may include an audible indictor, such as a bell or warningtone.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a portable computing device 305having a computer-readable medium 350 on which computer-executableinstructions 315 are stored thereon for performing a method according tothe present invention for indicating the status of a battery in theportable computing device. Preferably, portable computer 305 is a laptopcomputer, although any portable computing device, either stand alone orconnected to a network, may be used without departing from theprinciples of the present invention.

Computer-readable medium 350 can be a read only memory (ROM) device oncomputing device 305, such as can be found in a computing device's harddrive, for example. Alternatively, medium 350 can be a floppy disk,compact disk (CD), or other removable computer-readable medium.

According to the present invention, computing device 305 includes a BIOSinterrogating application 315, and a BIOS chip 310 having a BIOScontroller 317 and data store 335. The BIOS chip 310 may be a ROM chip,flash memory chip, or the like. Additionally, data associated with theBIOS controller 317 may be stored within data store 335, which may bestored within the BIOS chip 310 or in an external storage location,which may be within computing device 305 or may be external to computingdevice 305.

Preferably, the portable computing device 305 includes instructions 315thereon for indicating the status of the battery (not shown) in theportable computing device 305 by accessing the BIOS chip 310 on thecomputing device 305. Preferably, the instructions 315 of the computingdevice 305 are organized to retrieve battery status data from the BIOSdata store 335. As shown, the instructions 315 may retrieve such dataeither through the BIOS controller 317 or through the BIOS data store335 without departing from the principles of the present invention.

Then, the instructions 315 compare the retrieved battery status data toa predefined battery status threshold stored on the computing device305. Based on the comparison of the battery status data to thepredefined battery status threshold, the instructions 315 provide abattery status indicator to an applications program 360 executing on thecomputing device.

While the present invention has been described in connection with theembodiments of the various figures, it is to be understood that othersimilar embodiments may be used or modifications and additions may bemade to the described embodiment for performing the same function of thepresent invention without deviating therefrom. Therefore, the presentinvention should not be limited to any single embodiment, but ratherconstrued in breadth and scope in accordance with the recitation of theappended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for indicating the status of a batteryin a portable computing device, the method comprising: retrievingbattery status data from a basic input-output system (BIOS) on thecomputing device by an applications program initiating a BIOSinterrogating routine to retrieve the battery status data from the BIOSon the computing device, the battery status data reflective of a powercapacity of the battery; comparing the retrieved battery status data toa predefined battery status threshold stored on the computing device;and based on the comparison of the battery status data to the predefinedbattery status threshold, providing a battery status indicator to theapplications program executing on the computing device, wherein theapplications program includes a user interface to a remote network, forintegration of the battery status indicator into the user interface ofthe applications program.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:displaying a low battery alert when the comparison indicates that thepower capacity of the battery is less than the predefined statusthreshold.
 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising: displaying, viathe user interface to the remote network, a gauge representative of acurrent battery status.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the predefinedbattery status threshold is user-definable.
 5. A computer-readablemedium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions forperforming a method for indicating the status of a battery in a portablecomputing device, the method comprising: retrieving battery status datafrom a basic input-output system (BIOS) on the computing device by anapplications program initiating a BIOS interrogating routine to retrievethe battery status data from the BIOS on the computing device, thebattery status data reflective of a power capacity of the battery;comparing the retrieved battery status data to a predefined batterystatus threshold stored on the computing device; and based on thecomparison of the battery status data to the predefined battery statusthreshold, providing a battery status indicator to the applicationsprogram on the computing device, wherein the applications programincludes a user interface to a remote network, for integration of thebattery status indicator into the user interface of the applicationsprogram.